as in to tease
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
the principal reminded the student athletes that taunting their opponents was not showing good sportsmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of taunt
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The taunts followed a Game 1 in which Beasley repeatedly initiated contact with Jalen Brunson, even during stoppages, and punctuated 3-pointers with a celebratory shimmy.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Stepheny Price , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2025
The Ukrainians released a taunting video, in which first-person views of the drones careering into the planes were set to a pulsing techno soundtrack.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
Some suffered similar legal attacks and other slings and arrows, including Trump taunts and his trademark nasty nicknames.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The taunts followed a Game 1 in which Beasley repeatedly initiated contact with Jalen Brunson, even during stoppages, and punctuated 3-pointers with a celebratory shimmy.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
Sanchez, who has strongly opposed immigration enforcement, taunted ICE agents on Sunday after a farmworker died from injuries sustained from a fall during an immigration enforcement raid on a California cannabis farm.
—Stepheny Price , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2025
The Ukrainians released a taunting video, in which first-person views of the drones careering into the planes were set to a pulsing techno soundtrack.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
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First and foremost, after teasing it yesterday, Marvel just had Tom Holland walk out in his full Spidey costume (minus mask) to drive the internet wild.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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This week’s episode saw Carrie move on from the beloved romance, which the writers had teased to THR when confirming that Carrie’s chapter with Aidan was indeed over.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And while both teams seem to be better off for the move, with each leading their respective divisions, Yankee fans are likely going to welcome Soto's return with boos and jeers.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
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Seemingly every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd reacted in unison, more so with cheers than jeers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Verb
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When the Tea app breach occurred, social media users relished in mocking and threatening the safety of the women whose personal information had been leaked.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
2 Aug. 2025
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Allies of the president have mocked Dooley’s lack of experience, questioned his Republican credentials, and accused Kemp of putting personal loyalty above party unity in a must-win race.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Up front, its face is a far more rectilinear sneer.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
8 July 2025
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Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Noun
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To say that a two-hour daily commute both ways from Fredericksburg, Va., to Towson will not have any impact on her performance is arrogant on its face and an insult to those (voters) who have to hear it.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Aug. 2025
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Dimon and Trump have scuffled over multiple topics over the years, and the insults have been personal.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
31 July 2025
Noun
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After years of collaborating with DJ Khaled, the 28-year-old rapper had a pointed diss for the Miami artist in a new track teased on a livestream.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
30 July 2025
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In a separate post on Monday (July 21), Blunts then hit the studio to record an official diss record aimed at the Power mogul.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Roy Keane’s ‘prawn sandwiches’ jibe had interesting origins.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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But even some Republicans weren’t happy with the nasty gibe.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But a long-ago quip to four volunteers at No. 16 continues to shape his experience at Edgewood.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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The Princess of Wales, 43, made the quip in reference to her kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, at Colchester Hospital on July 2.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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